In March 2026, Honda discontinued the development and production of 3 EV models related to the 0 Series that had been planned for production in North America. This article explains the facts and background behind the decision, and the specific challenges it reveals for Honda's EV strategy.
Honda announced in March 2026 that it would discontinue the development and production of 3 electric vehicle (EV) models that had been planned for production in North America. The 3 models were the Honda 0 SUV, Honda 0 Saloon and Acura RSX, meaning that some of the models embodying the 0 Series concept have been withdrawn.
The 0 Series was proposed as a new EV design philosophy centered on being thin, light and intelligent. While it aimed to deliver thinness, reduced weight and smart value, some observers have pointed out that it failed to fully realize value through the cost structure of lithium-ion batteries, which raises EV costs, and integration with charging networks.
The market environment is said to favor Chinese manufacturers as they expand, while the state of charging infrastructure in the United States and elsewhere, as well as the overall strategic advantages of Tesla and BYD, including their integration with charging networks, also play a role. Against this backdrop, Japanese automakers face the question of how to build solutions that integrate charging networks with vehicle value, rather than competing on EV performance alone.
The article suggests that the discontinuation of Honda's 0 Series could affect the EV strategies of Japanese automakers as a whole. It also presents the view that new value creation based on integrating charging networks with vehicles should move forward.